South Korea’s camping and glamping sector is facing continued market contraction as declining domestic demand, rising operating costs, and changing travel preferences place pressure on campground operators, recreational vehicle manufacturers, and camping equipment businesses.
Industry data and accounts from business owners suggest that the post-pandemic expansion of the sector has given way to a period of adjustment, with some operators reducing prices, listing properties for sale, or exiting the market altogether.
One campground owner in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, described the challenges facing the sector after investing heavily during the pandemic-era outdoor recreation boom.
“A campsite that once invited people to ‘bulmyeong’ (staring blankly at a campfire) has now become a ‘sokmyeong’ (agonizing) site for owners.”
Kim, 69, who operates a 1,200-pyeong glamping property equipped with accommodations featuring beds, sinks, air conditioners, and other amenities, said he invested approximately 1.15 billion Korean won when opening the business in April 2021, including retirement savings and borrowed funds.
During the property’s first months of operation, weekend reservations were consistently full, generating between 10 million and 15 million Korean won in monthly revenue.
According to Kim, market conditions changed after international travel resumed in 2022 and outbound tourism increased following the easing of pandemic-related travel restrictions.
Kim told The Chosun Daily, “Even after slashing room prices from 280,000 Korean won to 140,000 Korean won per weekend, reservations are almost nonexistent. Last May, I put the glamping site up for sale at 500 million Korean won—less than half the investment—but for three months, not even a single person has come to view it.” He added, “Monthly losses exceeding 5 million Korean won are piling up, and with loan principal and interest repayments due, I’ve hit my limit.”
The broader slowdown is reflected in data published in the Korea Tourism Organization’s Latest Campsite User Survey Report, released late last year. According to the report, the number of camping participants declined from a peak of 6.34 million people in 2023 to 5.46 million in 2024, representing a 13.9% decrease.
During the same period, the estimated market value fell by 11.8%, declining from nearly 6.9 trillion Korean won to the low 6 trillion Korean won range.
Industry observers have characterized the decline as more than a short-term fluctuation, suggesting the market is entering a broader restructuring phase after several years of rapid expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The downturn has also affected campground transactions. A real estate broker serving the Gapyeong and Pocheon regions said distressed campground listings have increased substantially while buyer activity has slowed.
The broker said, “Over 80 campground listings from distressed sellers are piled up in this area alone, but visitors have completely stopped coming. Even after lowering prices from around 1 billion Korean won to below 400 million Korean won—less than half the initial investment—there are no inquiry calls.”
He added, “Campground sites are difficult to sell like regular real estate due to strict land use change and disposal regulations. Eventually, owners who can’t withstand fixed costs and loan interest are increasingly facing bankruptcy.”
National campground development has also slowed. The number of newly opened campgrounds reportedly declined from 547 in 2022 to 367 in 2025, a decrease of approximately 33%. Industry reports also indicate that around 60 campgrounds have been closing annually because of financial challenges.
The slowdown extends beyond campground operations. South Korea’s camping vehicle market has also contracted, with Carisyou data showing that domestic production and sales of camping vehicles and caravans totaled 1,525 units in 2025, down about 75% from 6,112 units recorded in 2022.
Some smaller vehicle conversion companies that expanded during the pandemic have since ceased operations, affecting the availability of replacement parts and after-sales service for existing owners.
A representative from a used vehicle dealership in Gyeonggi said, “Large camping cars that used to cost 80–90 million Korean won now struggle to sell even after price cuts of over 30 million Korean won. Especially vehicles from manufacturers that have closed and no longer provide AS are hard to sell due to repair cost burdens, leading to deeper depreciation.”
Camping equipment retailers have also reported weaker consumer spending. Average annual spending per camping household reportedly declined from 1.134 million Korean won in 2022 to 786,000 Korean won in 2024, while retailers also face increased competition from lower-priced imported products sold through international e-commerce platforms.
Lee, 42, who operates a camping equipment store in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, said, “Recently, customers often check products in person at offline stores but then order cheaper Chinese alternatives through online ultra-low-cost platforms. The strong preference for cost-effectiveness is significantly hurting dealership sales.”
For campground operators, glamping businesses, RV manufacturers, and suppliers, the changing market highlights the importance of adapting business strategies as consumer behavior evolves.
Diversifying revenue streams, investing in guest experiences that differentiate properties from competing travel options, and carefully managing capital expenditures may become increasingly important as the outdoor hospitality industry adjusts to more normalized post-pandemic demand and heightened competition across the broader leisure travel sector.